After being cut by the Flyers on October 4, 2011 following his first NHL training camp and pre-season, Zolnierczyk was assigned to the Phantoms to begin his first full professional ice hockey season.[6] On October 18, 2011, the Flyers re-called Zolnierczyk to replace injured Flyers forward Andreas Nödl in their game that night versus the Ottawa Senators.[7] In the first game of his NHL career, Zolnierczyk scored his first NHL goal with 45 seconds remaining in the third period against Senators' goaltender Craig Anderson.[8] The following day, Zolnierczyk was returned to the Phantoms.[9]